Myalgia as a symptom at hospital admission by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is associated with persistent musculoskeletal pain as long-term post-COVID sequelae: a case-control study. Issue 12 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César; Rodríguez-Jiménez, Jorge; Fuensalida-Novo, Stella; Palacios-Ceña, María; Gómez-Mayordomo, Víctor; Florencio, Lidiane L.; Hernández-Barrera, Valentín; Arendt-Nielsen, Lars
• Is Part Of: Pain. Volume 162:Issue 12(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Myalgia -- COVID-19 -- Musculoskeletal pain -- Post-COVID -- Sleep -- Anxiety -- Depression -- Pain sequelae; Pain -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Anesthésie -- Périodiques; Pain; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.0472
• DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0304-3959

Abstract

Abstract : Abstract: This study investigated the association between COVID-related myalgia experienced by patients at hospital admission and the presence of post-COVID symptoms. A case-control study including patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 between February 20 and May 31, 2020, was conducted. Patients reporting myalgia and patients without myalgia at hospital admission were scheduled for a telephone interview 7 months after hospital discharge. Hospitalisation and clinical data were collected from medical records. A list of post-COVID symptoms with attention to musculoskeletal pain was evaluated. Anxiety and depressive symptoms, and sleep quality were likewise assessed. From a total of 1200 hospitalised patients with COVID-19, 369 with and 369 without myalgia at hospital admission were assessed 7.2 months (SD 0.6) after hospital discharge. A greater proportion ( P = 0.03) of patients with myalgia at hospital admission (20%) showed ≥3 post-COVID symptoms when compared with individuals without myalgia (13%). A higher proportion of patients presenting myalgia (odds Rratio 1.41, 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.90) exhibited musculoskeletal post-COVID pain when compared to those without myalgia. The prevalence of musculoskeletal post-COVID pain in the total sample was 38%. Fifty percent of individuals with preexisting musculoskeletal pain experienced a worsening of their symptoms after COVID-19. No differences in fatigue, dyspnoea, anxiety/depressive levels, or sleep quality were observed between myalgia and nonmyalgia groups. The presence of myalgia at hospital admission was associated with preexisting history of musculoskeletal pain (OR 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.10-2.40). In conclusion, myalgia at the acute phase was associated with musculoskeletal pain as long-term post-COVID sequelae. In addition, half of the patients with preexisting pain conditions experienced a persistent exacerbation of their previous syndromes. Abstract : The presence of viral-induced myalgia at hospital admission due to COVID-19 was associated with development of new-onset musculoskeletal pain as post-COVID sequelae. No differences in dyspnoea, anxiety/depressive levels, or sleep quality were observed between patients with and without myalgia at the acute phase of the infection.